Wednesday 20th March 2024

Leader: Clive Horsford

Photographs: Clive Horsford & Mike Earl

Report - Clive Horsford

Early morning rain made prospects for a good walk doubtful but by the 10.00 am start time, the skies had brightened and the rain had ended. We soon reached the car park in Killington. In surprisingly mild and bright conditions, we set off from Killington passing the church and the old manor house and followed the beck for some way before ascending steeper ground from which there were extensive views of the Howgills, and Middleton fell. Soon Greenholme farm was reached where alpacas were grazing contentedly in a nearby field.

After a short coffee stop we continued into the uncultivated area in which the art was to avoid the boggy sections. A broad sweep round to the west led to a stony vehicle track which was followed to the edge of a substantial wood behind which was Lily Mere. The edge of the wood was followed to its lowest point where the path vanished and a boggy morass was entered. Here skill was needed to maintain one’s dignity and negotiate the humpy wasteland without sinking dangerously up to one’s knees in the quagmire. With some relief we were able to continue on a more reasonable track, from which there were glimpses of Lily Mere through the trees, and proceed towards the road for a lunch stop.

The minor road (the “Old Scotch Road”) was followed to a junction by Three Mile House where a left turn took us to Aikrigg from which fields were traversed to the edge of Killington appearing just below.